Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge happy to compete for Liverpool game time

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 28 July 2018

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge insists that he is happy to fight for game time next season, despite being pushed out of the team by the club's front three.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has insisted that he is happy to fight for game time next season, despite being pushed out of the team by the club's front three.

The Englishman is currently second-choice behind prolific trio Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in the Reds' attacking lineup, but has impressed in pre-season for Jurgen Klopp's team.

Sturridge does not seem fazed by his current situation, and told ESPN that it is a normal part of football.

"It's football, isn't it?," the 28-year-old said. "When I was at Chelsea, we had Didier [Drogba], we had [Nicolas] Anelka, we had [Salomon] Kalou, we had [Florent] Malouda. We had loads of players.

"When I first joined here, we had Luis [Suarez], which people maybe was thinking we were going to play together, but I wasn't guaranteed to play when I signed for Liverpool. I feel like, in football, you always have to prove yourself as well. The past is in the past. Last season was last season. Now it's a new season.

"So you have to continually evolve, and you have to continually try and help the team in any way you can, whichever position it may be, whichever team the manager selects, you have to say: 'OK, cool, that's for today.' The next game might change."

Sturridge's standout season for Liverpool came in the 2013-14 campaign, when he linked up with Suarez to net 24 Premier League goals and take his side close to the Premier League title.